Crossword Genius

Republican deteriorated and went mad (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

raged

'went mad' is the definition.
(rage can mean to become angry or mad)

'republican deteriorated' is the wordplay.
'republican' becomes 'R' (political abbreviation).
'deteriorated' becomes 'aged' (ageing is a kind of deteriorating).
'r'+'aged'='RAGED'

'and' is the link.

(Other definitions for raged that I've seen before include "Fumed" , "Was violently angry" , "Spoke loudly and angrily" , "Spoke violently" , "seethed" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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